Mechanism for driving a spinning rotor of the open-end spinning apparatus

ABSTRACT

An improved mechanism is provided for driving the spinning rotor of each spinning unit of an open-end spinning apparatus. A pneumatic bearing is utilized for supporting the rotor shaft. In the preferred mechanism, a pneumatic turbine is utilized to drive the rotor shaft and the discharge air from the turbine is utilized for the pneumatic bearing. Further, it is preferred to use the discharge air from the bearing as a supply air which is fed into the spinning rotor.

' United States Patent Suzuki Nov. 11, 1975 MECHANISM FOR DRIVING ASPINNING 2,659,193 11/1953 Hegedus 57/77.33 ROTOR OF THE OPEN-ENDSPINNING $111116 23 3 een APPARATUS 2,942,405 6/1960 Ward et al.57/77.45 [75] Inventor: Yoshihisa Suzuki, Nagoya, Japan 3,416,30012/1968 Schenkel 57/77 3,798,886 3 1974 R h' 1 57 58.89 X [73 Assignees:Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda d a Jidoshokki Seisakusho; Daiwa BosekiKabllshiki Kaisha, both 0 Primary E.\'anziner.1ohn Petrakes Osaka, paAttorney, Agent, 01' FirmBurgess Ryan and Wayne [22] Filed: Jan. 23,1974 [21] Appl. No.: 435,950

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Forelgn Application Pnority Data An improvedmechanism is provided for driving the Jan. 27, 1973 Japan 48-11409 i irotor f h i i i f an OPerHmd Jan. 30, 1973 Japan 48-12359 Spinningapparatus A pneumatic bearing is utilized for supporting the rotorshaft. in the preferred mecha- [52] US. Cl.2 57/101; 57/58.89 rnism apneumatic turbine is utilized to drive the rotor [51] '3 D0111 1/24;1/12 shaft and the discharge air from the turbine is utilized [58] Fleldof Search "5758894891 for the pneumatic bearing. Further, it ispreferred to 101 use the discharge air from the bearing as a supply airwhich is fed into the spinning rotor. [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 5 Claims, 5- Drawing Figures 930,850 8/1909 DeFerranti57/101 I U.S. Patent Nov.11, 1975 Sheet1of3 3,918,248

US. Patent Nov. 11,1975 Sheet2 of3 3,918,248

US. Patent Nov. 11,1975 Sheet3of3 3,918,248

MECHANISM FOR DRIVING A SPINNING ROTOR OF THE OPEN-END SPINNINGAPPARATUS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to animprovement in the mechanism for driving a spinning rotor of the openendspinning apparatus.

Due to recent expansion in the use of the open-end spinning system, amore rapid rotation of the spinning rotor has been desired so as toincrease the productivity of the open-end spinning machine. However, ifthe spinning rotor of each spinning unit of the open-end spinningmachine is driven by means of the so-called belt drive system, the highspeed driving of the spinning rotor creates very serious problems suchas degradation of the durability of bearings utilized to support thespinning rotor, creation of unpleasant noise, serious vibration of thespindle, etc.

Therefore, the principal object of the present invention is to providean improved mechanism for driving a spinning rotor of the open-endspinning apparatus by which the above-mentioned difficulties can beperfectly eliminated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmechanism for driving a spinning rotor of an open-end spinning apparatussaid mechanism being provided with an auxiliary device for supplying apressurized air stream into the spinning rotor so as to carry out astable spinning operation without disturbance from the above-mentionedtroubles.

To attain the above-mentioned purposes, in the present invention, aso-called pneumatic bearing is utilized so as to rotatably support theshaft of the spinning rotor. Further, a pneumatic turbine is utilized soas to drive the shaft of the spinning rotor and the pressurized airsupplied to the pneumatic turbine is discharged into the pneumaticbearing. The pressurized air discharged from the pneumatic bearing isutilized as supply air into the spinning rotor instead of supplying airinto the spinning rotor from the atmosphere in the-spinning room.

Besides eliminating the above-mentioned problems, with the presentinvention the spinning unit can be compactly made and, in addition, lossof power in driving the spinning rotor can be minimized because grease,which is normally utilized for the conventional bearing of an open-endspinning unit, is not used. Consequently, the running durability of thebearing for sup-.

porting the shaft of the spinning rotor can be remarkably prolonged incomparison to that of the conventional bearing.

Further, as the pressurized air is supplied into the spinning rotor fromthe pneumatic bearing, instead of being supplied directly from theatmosphere, the undesirable introduction of fiber lint or dust into thespinning rotor can be suitably prevented and, thereby the possibility ofdamage to the yarn quality from such lint or dust is completelyeliminated. Because of this feature of the present invention, the filterwhich is required for separating fiber lint or dust from the supply airinto the spinning rotor in the conventional driving system can beomitted so that all maintenance operations related to the filter can beeliminated.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of aspinning unit of the open-end spinning machine according to the presentinvention;

FIG.2 is a schematic side view of the spinning unit shown in FIG. 1 in acondition wherein a brake is applied to the spinning rotor;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-section view of the pneumatic bearing andthe pneumatic turbine utilized for driving the spinning rotor shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the pneumatic turbine shown in FIG.3, taken along a line IVIV in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the pneumatic bearing shown in FIG.3, taken along a line VV in FIG. 3.

DETAILED ILLUSTRATION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, inthe spinning unit according to the present invention, a frame 1 having afiber supply means is supported on a fixed bracket 2 by means of a pivotshaft 3 so that the frame 1 is capable of turning about the pivot shaft3 and an auxiliary bracket 4 is secured to the bracket 2. A rotor holder5 is turnably mounted on the auxiliary bracket 4 by a pivot shaft 4a sothat the rotor holder 5 is capable of turning about the pivot shaft 4a.An engaging pin 4b projects from the auxiliary bracket 4 and a hookmember 9 is displaceably mounted on the frame of the spinning unit 1 insuch a condition that when the hook member 9 is pushed inward, the hookmember 9 catches a cap of the engaging pin 4b at a working conditionshown in FIG. 1 where the normal spinning operation can be carried out.A spinning rotor I3 is rigidly mounted on a rotor shaft 22 which isturnably supported by the rotor holder 5 as hereinafter illustrated indetail. A casing 16a of the rotor holder 5 is turnably mounted on thepivot shaft 4a. A brake pulley 8 is rigidly mounted on the rotor shaft22 in such a position that the brake pulley 8 is capable of contacting abrake member 10 when the bracket 2 turns about the pivot shaft 3 bydisengaging the hook member 9 from the cap of the engaging pin 4b, andthe rotor holder 5 turns about the pivot shaft 40 as shown in FIG. 2.Therefore, when the brake pulley 8 contacts the brake member 10 due tothe turning of the holder 5 about the pivot shaft 4a, the rotation ofthe rotor shaft 22 is stopped. The above-mentioned respective turningmotions of the bracket 2 and the rotor holder 5 about the pivot shafts 3and 4a are required when a spinning yarn is broken or a certainmaintenance operation is required. In the above-mentioned embodiment,the rotor holder 5 comprises the casing 16a, which covers the spinningrotor 13 and a bearing 16b which rotatably supports the rotor shaft 22.

A hook member 7 is turnably mounted on the frame of the spinning unit 1and a hook like projection 16c is projected downward from the casing 16aof the rotor holder 5 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 so that the rotor holder5 is capable of holding by engaging the hook member 7 with theprojection when the frame 1 of the spinning unit is turned about thepivot shaft 3 by its own-weight. According to the above-mentionedturning motion of the frame 1, the holder 5 is'forced to turn about thepivot shaft 4a and the brake pulley 8 is urged to the brake 10.

As a driving means for driving the rotor shaft 22, a pneumatic turbineis utilized. That is, a turbine 18 is secured to the rotor shaft 22 andcompressed'air is supplied from a supply source into a cylindrical space30 formed in the rotor holder 5 by way of supply conduits 50, 51 and aninlet 17, and then the compressed air is accelerated by a nozzle 31 (seeFIG. 4) so that the accelerated compressed air is ejected into a spacesurrounding the turbine 18. Consequently, the ejected compressed airimpinges on blades 32 of the turbine 18 so that the rotor shaft 22 isturned in a direction represented by an arrow 33 in FIG. 4. According tothe above-mentioned motion of the rotor shaft 22, the rotor 13 is turnedin the same direction so that the yarn forming operation in the spinningrotor 13 can be carried out. In the present invention, other types ofpneumatic turbines, other than the one described above, can be utilizedwith the same working effect as the abovementioned turbine.

The pressure of the highly compressed air which has been used forturning the pneumatic turbine 18 is low ered in the space surroundingthe blades 32 of the turbine 18 and is discharged from a passage 19which connects the space surrounding the blades 32 of the tur bine 18with the pneumatic bearing 16b, and supplied into the pneumatic bearing16b via a plurality of connecting passage 20 (see FIG. The compressedair in the passages is fed into spaces formed in the body of thepneumatic bearing 16b via the respective passages 21 and then carriedinto a small cylindrical space 23 formed between the rotor shaft 22 andthe bearing through a plurality of inlets 36, for example, four inlets36 in this embodiment. Consequently, the shaft 22 is held in a floatingcoaxial condition within the inside cylindrical wall of the bearing 40by the static pressure of the air flow. A pair of flanges 27a and 27bare rigidly secured to the rotor shaft 22 in proximity to and outsidethe ends of the bearing 40 so as to bear the thrust forces 28a, 28bcreated by the turbine 18, and the pressurized air is ejected fromejection apertures 37a, 37b via the respective spaces 35, toward theinside surfaces of the flanges 27a. 27b so that very small clearancesbetween the flanges 27a, 27b and the corresponding outside surfaces ofthe bearing 40 can be maintained. The pressurized air used as mentionedabove is then introduced into a space 24 which is connected to theabovementioned air passages, and then discharged via a conduit 25 anddischarge apertures 26a, 26b.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the pipe flow resistances between the inletaperture 17 and the plurality of discharge apertures 31, and between theinlet aperture 19 and the plurality of apertures 35, are designed so asto attain uniform supply of the pressurized air into the spacessurrounding the rotor shaft 22 and the turbine 18. The air dischargedfrom the spinning rotor 13 through an aperture or apertures 14 formed inthe spinning rotor 13 is carried to a discharge duct (not shown) from adiffusion space 41 via a discharge conduit 15. As the air pressure inthe bearing 16b is higher than that the diffusion space 41 of the casing16a, the discharge air from the spinning rotor 13, which contains lintand/or dust, cannot be introduced into the bearing 16b and,consequently, there is no trouble from lints and/or dust deposited inthe bearing 16b. However, to assure even greater protection in thepresent invention, the bearing 16b is sealed by a labyrinth packing 29a.It is also acceptable to utilize a taper labyrinth packing which permitsa very weak air flow from the bearing 40 into the diffusion space 14. Toprevent the discharge of the pressurized air from the turbine 18 intothe atmosphere, a labyrinth packing 29b similar to the packing 29a isutilized as shown in FIG. 3. When it is required to turn the frame 1from the spinning position thereof, which is shown in FIG. 1, it isacceptable to utilize a stop valve (not shown) which automaticallycloses the supply conduit 51 when the frame 1 is turned from thespinning position. However, as the spinning rotor 13 is driven by a veryweak driving force created by a low pressurized air, even when theabove-mentioned stop valve is omitted, the spinning rotor 13 can bestopped by contacting the brake pulley 8 with the brake member 10 whilecontinuing to supply the pressurized air into the turbine 18.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, a pneumatic turbine 18 is utilized todrive the rotor shaft 22, however, any other driving means such as ahigh frequency motor, etc. may be used. In this case, the pressurizedair is directly supplied into the bearing 16b.

As already explained, in the present invention, as the pneumatic bearing16b is utilized to rotatably support the rotor shaft 22, thedifficulties which are obstacles to high speed rotation of the spinningrotor can be satisfactorily eliminated.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the discharged air from the outletaperture 26a is fed into the spinning rotor 13 as hereinafterillustrated in detail. That is, the aperture 26a is connected, by meansof a flexible connecting conduit 60, with an inlet conduit 61, which inturn is connected to an air supply inlet 11 of the spinning unit 1. Theinlet 11 is connected with the spinning rotor 13 by a conduit 12. If,the quantity of the discharge air from the outlet apertures 26a is toolarge to be supplied into the spinning rotor 13, another outlet aperture26b may be opened so as to discharge a part of the discharge air intothe atmosphere. As the flexible connecting conduit 60 is utilized, theturning motion of the bracket 2 about the pivot shaft 3 can be carriedout without any disturbance. In this embodiment, the air supplied fromthe pneumatic bearing 40 into the spinning rotor 13 does not containlint and/or dust. Consequently, difficulties due to lint and/or dust,which are the basis for some of the major troubles in the conventionalopen-end spinning unit, can be suitably eliminated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mechanism for driving the spinning rotor of each spinning unitof an open-end spinning apparatus wherein a shaft of said rotor isrotatably supported by a pneumatic bearing mounted in a rotor holder ofsaid spinning unit, the improvement comprising a cylindrical bearingmember mounted to project inwardly in said pneumatic bearing wherebysaid rotor shaft is rotatably pneumatically supported by means of saidcylindrical bearing member, a pair of cylindrical chambers formed insaid pneumatic bearing at positions axially beyond opposite ends of saidcylindrical member, a pair of flanges rigidly secured to said rotorshaft in the proximity of and beyond the axial ends of said cylindricalbearing member whereby said flanges are positioned in separate saidcylindrical chambers, means for supplying pressurized air into a spacebetween said rotor shaft and said cylindrical bearing member and alsointo spaces between said flanges and said cylindrical bearing member inuniform condition, means for discharging said supplied air from saidspaces to the outside of said pneumatic bearing, and means for sea]- inga clearance between said rotor shaft and said pneumatic bearing at bothends of said pneumatic bearing.

2. An improvement of the mechanism for driving a spinning rotor of theopen-end spinning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising apneumatic turbine coaxially connected to said rotor shaft, saidpneumatic turbine being provided with an inlet conduit for receivingsaid pressurized air from a supply source and an outlet aperture fordischarging said pressurized air therefrom, wherein said means forsupplying pressurized air into said space between said rotor shaft andsaid cylindrical bearing member is connected to said dischargingaperture of said turbine.

3. An improvement of the mechanism for driving a spinning rotor of theopen-end spinning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said supplyingmeans comprises a plurality of connecting passages connected to saidoutlet aperture of said pneumatic turbine, each of said connectingpassages being connected to an inlet passage which is connected to saidspace between said rotor shaft and said cylindrical bearing member.

4. In a mechanism for driving the spinning rotor of each spinning unitof an op'en-end spinning apparatus wherein air is supplied into saidspinning rotor via an inlet conduit mounted on said spinning unit and ashaft of said rotor is rotatably supported by a pneumatic bearingmounted in a rotor holder of said spinning unit, the improvementcomprising a cylindrical bearing member mounted to project inwardly insaid pneumatic bearing whereby said rotor shaft is rotatablypneumatically supported by means of said cylindrical bearing member, apair of cylindrical chambers formed in said pneumatic bearing atpositions axially beyond opposite ends of said cylindrical member, apair of flanges rigidly secured to said rotor shaft in proximity to andbeyond separate opposite axial ends of said cylindrical bearing memberwhereby said flanges are positioned in separate said cylindricalchambers, means for supplying pressurized air into a space between saidrotor shaft and said cylindrical bearing member and also into spacesbetween said flanges and said cylindrical bearing member in uniformcondition. means for discharging said supplied air from said spaces tothe outside of said pneumatic bearing, means for sealing a clearancebetween said rotor shaft and said pneumatic bearing at both ends of saidpneumatic bearing, saiddischarging means being connected to said inletconduit so that the discharged air from said pneumatic bearing is fedinto said spinning rotor.

5. An improvement of the mechanism for driving a spinning rotor of theopen-end spinning apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising apneumatic turbine coaxially connected to said rotor shaft, saidpneumatic turbine being provided with an inlet conduit for receivingsaid pressurized air from a supply source and an outlet aperture fordischarging said pressurized air therefrom, wherein said means forsupplying pressurized air into said space and said rotor shaft and saidcylindrical bearing member is connected to said discharging aperture ofsaid turbine.

1. In a mechanism for driving the spinning rotor of each spinning unitof an open-end spinning apparatus wherein a shaft of said rotor isrotatably supported by a pneumatic bearing mounted in a rotor holder ofsaid spinning unit, the improvement comprising a cylindrical bearingmember mounted to project inwardly in said pneumatic bearing wherebysaid rotor shaft is rotatably pneumatically supported by means of saidcylindrical bearing member, a pair of cylindrical chambers formed insaid pneumatic bearing at positions axially beyond opposite ends of saidcylindrical member, a pair of flanges rigidly secured to said rotorshaft in the proximity of and beyond the axial ends of said cylindricalbearing member whereby said flanges are positioned in separate saidcylindrical chambers, means for supplying pressurized air into a spacebetween said rotor shaft and said cylindrical bearing member and alsointo spaces between said flanges and said cylindrical bearing member inuniform condition, means for discharging said supplied air from saidspaces to the outside of said pneumatic bearing, and means for sealing aclearance between said rotor shaft and said pneumatic bearing at bothends of said pneumatic bearing.
 2. An improvement of the mechanism fordriving a spinning rotor of the open-end spinning apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising a pneumatic turbine coaxially connected tosaid rotor shaft, said pneumatic turbine being provided with an inletconduit for receiving said pressurized air from a supply source and anoutlet aperture for discharging said pressurized air therefrom, whereinsaid means for supplying pressurized air into said space between saidrotor shaft and said cylindrical bearing member is connected to saiddischarging aperture of said turbine.
 3. An improvement of the mechanismfor driving a spinning rotor of the open-end spinning apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein said supplying means comprises a pluralityof connecting passages connected to said outlet aperture of saidpneumatic turbine, each of said connecting passages being connected toaN inlet passage which is connected to said space between said rotorshaft and said cylindrical bearing member.
 4. In a mechanism for drivingthe spinning rotor of each spinning unit of an open-end spinningapparatus wherein air is supplied into said spinning rotor via an inletconduit mounted on said spinning unit and a shaft of said rotor isrotatably supported by a pneumatic bearing mounted in a rotor holder ofsaid spinning unit, the improvement comprising a cylindrical bearingmember mounted to project inwardly in said pneumatic bearing wherebysaid rotor shaft is rotatably pneumatically supported by means of saidcylindrical bearing member, a pair of cylindrical chambers formed insaid pneumatic bearing at positions axially beyond opposite ends of saidcylindrical member, a pair of flanges rigidly secured to said rotorshaft in proximity to and beyond separate opposite axial ends of saidcylindrical bearing member whereby said flanges are positioned inseparate said cylindrical chambers, means for supplying pressurized airinto a space between said rotor shaft and said cylindrical bearingmember and also into spaces between said flanges and said cylindricalbearing member in uniform condition, means for discharging said suppliedair from said spaces to the outside of said pneumatic bearing, means forsealing a clearance between said rotor shaft and said pneumatic bearingat both ends of said pneumatic bearing, said discharging means beingconnected to said inlet conduit so that the discharged air from saidpneumatic bearing is fed into said spinning rotor.
 5. An improvement ofthe mechanism for driving a spinning rotor of the open-end spinningapparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a pneumatic turbinecoaxially connected to said rotor shaft, said pneumatic turbine beingprovided with an inlet conduit for receiving said pressurized air from asupply source and an outlet aperture for discharging said pressurizedair therefrom, wherein said means for supplying pressurized air intosaid space and said rotor shaft and said cylindrical bearing member isconnected to said discharging aperture of said turbine.